Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Samsung Asset Management is launching the KODEX US Dividend Dow Jones Active ETF this week, targeting the same Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index tracked by the popular US SCHD ETF. The move comes as KOSPI experienced sharp declines last week, prompting investor interest in dividend-focused

According to Yonhapinfomax, Samsung Asset Management this week launched a new active exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index, positioning itself as a Korean alternative to the popular SCHD product. The new KODEX US Dividend Dow Jones Active ETF fills a market gap

President Donald Trump waived Russia-related sanctions and tariffs authorized under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Oct. 16, invoking national interest authority granted by the law. The waiver, issued via executive order, came less than a month after Trump signed the Graham

On Oct. 16, President Trump issued an executive order waiving Russia-related sanctions and tariffs authorized under the recently enacted Graham Act, signed into law on Sept. 18. The waiver comes roughly a week after an administration diesel deal with Russia. The Graham Act allows the president to w

According to Barron's, U.S. Treasury yields plunged from 5.33% to 5.055% over the past three days as technology stocks and AI-related investments faced significant selling pressure. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index extended its losing streak to eight consecutive trading days, marking its

Bulgaria's Postbank plans to launch a digital-asset investment service early next year, according to an Oct. 17 report by Odaily. The bank will introduce the service through its mobile banking app in early 2027, enabling users to invest in digital assets alongside stocks, exchange-traded funds,

According to reports on October 17, India ordered state-owned fuel retailers to halt purchases of ethanol produced from sugarcane and sugar derivatives, effective from the new supply year beginning November 1. Five major state refiners—Indian Oil Corporation, Bharath

According to the People's Bank of China, Governor Pan Gongsheng met with central bank leaders from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, and Georgia during October 14–16 while attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meeting. The officials

PayPal, SoFi, Affirm, and other US fintech stocks dominated US Stock Market News this week as regulatory scrutiny and interest rate pressures shaped investor sentiment. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a formal enforcement initiative on October 14 targeting unlawful

According to Wall Street analyst Larry McDonald, many major U.S. stocks have plummeted 30-50% from recent highs this year despite the S&P 500 reaching record levels. McDonald, author of The Bear Traps Report, said numerous companies including Harley-Davidson (down 30-40%), Lennar (down 45%), and

According to Odaily, Bulgarian bank Postbank plans to launch stock, ETF, crypto asset, commodity and metal investment features in its mobile banking app in early 2027. The service will be provided through a partnership with an international investment

According to BlockBeats, on October 17, the S&P 500 is experiencing significant market divergence driven by tightening financial conditions as U.S. Treasury yields, the dollar, and oil prices rise. The median stock in the S&P 500 has fallen approximately 15% from its 52-week high, marking one of the

Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster on October 15 at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, showcasing a sports car that hovers using rocket company technology, CNBC reported on October 16. The demonstration featured SpaceX-developed thrusters, high-pressure vessels and powerful fans,

In US Stock Market News, the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.14% on Friday, October 16, 2026 (10:14 PM IST), with the S&P 500 declining 1.09% as investors raised questions about mounting artificial intelligence debt and higher interest rates. The Nasdaq's weekly losses reached roughly 4.5%—its worst week si

South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance released its October edition of the Recent Economic Trends report on Oct. 16, stating the domestic economy continues a solid recovery driven by rising exports and investment. The ministry reported September exports jumped 83.5% from a year earlier, led b

According to BlockBeats, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 14% since October 6, raising concerns about a potential cyclical downturn despite AI-driven semiconductor boom. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) posted its sixth consecutive quarter of record profits, while Samsung

US Ether exchange-traded funds recorded net outflows of $69.7 million on Oct. 16, with all withdrawals originating from BlackRock's ETHA, according to Trader T data. Other products including Grayscale's ETHE and mini ETF ETH, Fidelity's FETH, and BlackRock's staking ETF ETHB reported zero net

On October 17, U.S. President Trump stated on social media that the S&P 500 index climbed from 5,881 points in December 2024 to 7,651 points in September 2026 during his tenure, representing a cumulative gain of approximately 30%. However, U.S. stock markets fell sharply on Friday, with the